Saving the World to Save Myself

After being accepted into Doctors Without Borders, I handed over the position of Chief at the capital’s hospital to Elaine Brown.

My best friend frowned at me. "You’re destroying any chance of a future with Jeffrey if you go.”

I gave him a faint smile. "I'm just returning him to the woman he's always had in his heart."

In my previous life, Jeffrey Carter and I were the infamous bickering couple everyone in our circle knew to avoid.

He resented me for refusing to replace Elaine when she applied to join Doctors Without Borders. She later caught an infection and died on the job.

I resented him for his hypocrisy. If he loved Elaine so much, why did he agree to my parents' demands to care for me for the rest of our lives?

We spent seven years of marriage together, yet the best we ever wished for each other was a miserable death.

However, amid the gunfire and chaos on the battlefield, he used his last ounce of strength to shield me completely when his heart was pierced by a bullet.

"I've arranged for someone to meet you. Once the sweep ends, run. You must survive!" he whispered, his voice fading. "I'll protect you fully in this life… and in the next, we’ll never meet.

"Elaine, I'm doing this for you."

However, the bomb dropped from above gave us no chance to escape, and we were both annihilated.

When I opened my eyes, I had returned to the eve of our wedding.

Jeffrey… In this life, I would fulfill your wish.

"Are you giving up on Jeffrey?" my mentor, Samuel Jones, asked with wide eyes.

I just gave him a sad smile and nodded.

Samuel knew how much I cared about Jeffrey Carter, but he never thought we were right for each other.

I still remember his warning right before I was supposed to get married in my previous life.

"No one wants to break off their engagement, but I can't stand to see my two star students make each other miserable for the rest of their lives.

"Carol, you can't force a relationship to work."

Back then, I was too stubborn to listen. "I don't care. I'll make things work out, no matter what I have to do!"

The sourness in my heart woke me up. I looked up at Samuel and quickly changed the subject. "Mr. Jones, I've signed up for Doctors Without Borders.

"I'm leaving in three days. I came to say goodbye."

Samuel saw the tears in my eyes and looked like he wanted to say something comforting, but he stopped himself.

"It's good to see the world. Doctors Without Borders is risky, but it's a great chance."

I did not expect to run into Jeffrey after leaving Samuel and going back to the Carter family's place.

It was the first time I had seen him since I was reborn.

His back and legs were wrapped in bandages, which were dotted with little spots of blood.

His dad had punished him harshly for not wanting to marry me.

He would not look at me, perhaps because he had turned down the marriage.

I grabbed the first aid kit, cleaned his wounds, and put on fresh bandages.

We did not exchange a word the whole time.

It felt strange.

If I counted my previous life, it had been seven years since we sat together without fighting.

Every time we met, it was always a battle of words. It had long become the norm.

Seeing the pained sweat on his forehead, I carefully told him, "Elaine snuck onto my computer and said yes to a big job from Doctors Without Borders. The hospital needed to send someone, and I thought it made sense to pick her."

Jeffrey stayed quiet for what felt like forever, then finally said, "Elaine told me it was just an accident. She's sorry. She shouldn't have to pay such a big price for her mistake."

I could not help but laugh at myself.

Elaine Brown knew exactly what she was doing. She thought she could use my ID to apply to Doctors Without Borders under my name, but she did not realize the computer would check her eyes to verify my identity.

She wanted to push me away from Jeffrey and take all his love for herself.

I did not bother explaining because I knew Jeffrey would not listen to me. From behind me, he said, "Elaine's never had to tough it out before. Going to a place like that could be too much for her."